Formula 1 Welcomes New American Team to Grid for 2026 Season

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 has officially announced the expansion of its grid for the 2026 season to welcome a new American team in partnership with General Motors. This marks a significant milestone for the sport, further establishing its presence in the United States.

“As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.”

The approval comes after years of negotiations, which included an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department regarding Liberty Media's initial refusal to approve a team started by Michael Andretti. In September, Andretti stepped back from his role, allowing the new team, named Cadillac F1, to be led by majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. For its first two seasons, Cadillac F1 will utilize Ferrari engines until GM develops a competitive Cadillac engine set for release in time for the 2028 season.

Towriss is not new to motorsports; he is CEO of Group 1001 and became involved through sponsorship with Andretti’s IndyCar team. He now holds ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports’ NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing’s sports car team.

Walter serves as chief executive at Guggenheim Partners and is also controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea.

“We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1,” Towriss expressed. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.”

Mario Andretti, who was crowned F1 world champion in 1978, will take on an ambassadorial role with Cadillac F1. However, his son Michael will no longer hold any formal position within the organization following his reduced involvement with Andretti Global.

This announcement had been anticipated for weeks but was strategically timed after last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix to avoid overshadowing this premier event within Liberty Media's portfolio. Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive championship during Saturday night’s race—the final leg of three U.S.-based races this season.

Expanding the grid in F1 is unusual and often fraught with challenges. In 2010, four teams were granted entries aiming for a total of 13 teams—yet one never made it onto the grid while others disappeared by 2017. Currently, there is just one American team owned by Gene Haas; however, it lacks competitiveness and does not feature American drivers. Andretti's vision aimed at creating a truly American team with homegrown talent.

The push for this new entry has spanned over three years as F1 initially turned down Andretti's application despite approval from FIA—the governing body overseeing motorsport globally. Resistance from existing teams stemmed largely from concerns over prize money dilution given their substantial investments already made into F1.

Andretti had previously attempted unsuccessfully to acquire Sauber before ultimately applying once more for grid expansion alongside GM—the top-selling automaker in America. The FIA supported this inclusion strongly under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem who noted that Andretti's bid was uniquely compliant among seven applicants seeking expanded grid opportunities.

“General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world working with impressive partners,” Ben Sulayem stated on Monday. “I am fully supportive of efforts made by FIA, Formula 1, GM, and this team towards achieving this agreement.”

Despite early support from FIA concerning Andretti and GM's bid, F1 showed hesitance towards including Andretti himself preferring instead only partnership opportunities with GM directly—an offer which they declined leading them ultimately back to reconsideration once Cadillac prepares their engine for competition.

“Formula 1 has maintained dialogue with General Motors regarding viability following commercial assessments slated for January 2024,” said an official statement from F1. “They have marked operational milestones throughout this year demonstrating commitment towards branding our future eleventh team as GM/Cadillac.”

A notable shift occurred earlier this month when Greg Maffei—CEO of Liberty Media—resigned amid speculation he opposed adding Andretti into F1's fold significantly contributing toward expanding American representation within motorsports.
“With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US...we believe welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac could bring additional value,” Maffei remarked about their potential impact on enhancing interest across all fan bases involved."